Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
were being written, so that the audiences could always see a mixture of old favorites and
novelties.
(101) Theatre street.
Performances sometimes started as early as four o'clock in the morning, but the first
pieces were either ritualistic curtain raisers or try-outs for inexperienced actors, so that it
was six or seven before there was anything worth seeing. Even so, it was often more con-
venienttospendthepreviousnightinanear-byrestaurant, andsometimes itwasnecessary
to do so to get a good place when a popular actor was playing. The performance ended at
fourorfiveintheafternoon,andpersonswhohadtraveledsomedistancewouldsometimes
spend another night in the vicinity before returning home.
The seating in the theatre was on mats in square compartments, holding about six
people, separated by raised divisions, along which members of the audience made their
